If you love to shop, sometimes you may find that whether or not you have a shopping buddy can greatly affect the experience. Some shoppers prefer to have a second opinion when it comes to picking out an outfit, while others like to go solo. Regardless of whether you see a shopping partner as a benefit or a hindrance, the majority of shoppers will find that their smart phones are the best shopping partners out there. From comparing great deals to discovering the right outfit, here are 14 apps that every shopaholic should have.
Finding Deals
Being able to find a good deal is the main goal of a shopaholic. If you are spending too much, then the shopping trip is unsuccessful. When it comes to finding deals using apps, most individuals usually search in two categories: apps that help you find a specific product at a lower price or apps that help you find general items you want for a cheaper price online.
To find better deals for a specific product, I recommend Shop Advisor. Not only does the app allow you to search for items by keyword or barcode, but you can also save items to track their price and ensure the deal is the best for you. Red Laser (Pictured Above) is one of the most popular options and is currently a veteran in barcode scanners.
The app also offers you great deals and even coupons. If you are looking for deals online, two popular options are Zappos (Pictured Above) and eBay. Both have quality mobile applications that allow you to search on a whim, and eBay’s barcode scanner makes searching even more seamless.
Figure Out What to Buy
Once you know how to find the deals, it is now time to figure out what you will buy and who will receive the gift. If you are thinking of who will get what gift for either a birthday or the holiday season, Gift Plan (Pictured Above) is an application to look into that will allow you to make a list of individuals in need of a gift, when to give them their gift, and what you want to give them.
If you are looking into a bit of personal shopping, Wanelo (Pictured Above) is a wallet emptier. Simply look on other individual’s profiles, the profiles of stores, or around the web for products that interest you. Wanelo links with the website you are getting the product from to offer a direct link to where purchase the item. Pinterest, similar to Wanelo, allows you to save items and create collective boards. Pinterest doesn’t allow you to purchase in-app, but it does allow you to save other types of items and photos.
Once At the Mall
You have your gifts in mind and you are ready to head to the mall, but that can be a stressful trip in itself. From having to find parking to other shopping assistance apps, your iPhone is there to help. On the subject of looking for parking, Parkbud (Pictured Above) is known as a great choice and the ultimate resource for parking anywhere.
The application not only allows you to find your car based on GPS, you can also set a timer to let you know when your meter is about to run out and even pay for your meter if mobile payment is accepted. It isn’t free, at $1.99, but it’s worth it. Evernote is a great resource, once at the mall, to keep a nice tally of whom you’re shopping for. With Evernote Premium, you can even have select people edit the notes, making grocery and gift lists more seamless than ever.
Money Management
Shopping can certainly put a damper on anyone’s budget. However, adequate planning and understanding your economic state in all cases will allow you to know how to budget adequately. This is possible with some applications, like Mint or Moni. Both allow you to connect various accounts and track expenses. Moni (Pictured Above) is unique in that it truly reflects whats in your pocket, rather than what’s calculated in your accounts. Meaning, Moni takes into account cash as well as connected accounts.
Other applications, like PayPal can be useful when shopping online and in select stores. The ability to also receive money and transfer it to connected accounts makes it a great choice for ensuring you have enough cash when shopping. Specific banks also have their own apps like USAA, Bank of America, etc. It’s smart to look into those as well.
The above applications are there to help you throughout the shopping process. From finding out what you need to buy to finding the best deal for it, we hope that the apps above will ensure that you get the item you want at the right price. With the holiday shopping season around the corner, let us know in the comments below what applications you enjoy when you are out and about shopping.
